A. Vaccination Required: All dogs within the city limits, shall have proof of a current rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian beginning at six (6) months of age. Every owner, or custodian must, upon request of an animal control officer or police officer, produce proof of such rabies vaccination. (Ord. 1993-7, 12-9-1993; amd. 2007 Code)
B. Owning, Harboring Or Keeping Afflicted Animal Prohibited: It is unlawful for a person other than a veterinarian, a hospital for small or large animals, or the animal control center to own, keep, or harbor any animal afflicted with rabies.
C. Afflicted Animals:
1. Duty To Secure: The animal control center or the owner shall secure disposition of any animal afflicted with rabies.
2. Failure To Surrender: If an owner or custodian refuses to surrender such animal, the animal control center is empowered to seize such animal and transport it to a licensed veterinarian.
3. Costs Of Confinement And Disposal: The owner or custodian shall be responsible for all costs and fees for confinement and disposal.
D. Symptoms Present; Animal Bite:
1. Duty To Surrender: It shall be the duty of every owner of, or person keeping or harboring, an animal showing symptoms of rabies, or which has bitten any person causing an abrasion of the skin, to surrender the animal for confinement and isolation at the animal control center or to a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten (10) days or to confine the animal on the owner or custodian's premises.
2. Impoundment: The place of impoundment is at the discretion of the animal control center. If the animal to be impounded is left with the owner or custodian and if the animal is found outside the quarantine area designated by the owner or custodian, the animal shall be impounded by the animal control center and shall be subject to disposal.
3. Examination By Veterinarian; Vaccination: Immediately following the ten (10) day quarantine, the animal shall be taken by the owner or custodian to a licensed veterinarian for examination to confirm the animal does not have rabies and to obtain a rabies vaccination if the owner or custodian has not produced a current, valid certificate. A copy of such examination and rabies vaccination shall be delivered to the animal control center.
4. Costs: Costs of such confinement, examination and vaccination are to be borne by the owner or custodian.
5. Determined Free Of Rabies: If such animal shall be determined free of rabies, it shall be returned to the owner or custodian upon payment of the regular fee for keeping such animal impounded. If such fee is not paid, the animal shall be subject to disposal.
6. Killing Suspect Animal:
a. Prohibited: No police officer, animal control officer or other person shall kill, or cause to be killed, any animal suspected of being rabid, except after the animal has been placed in quarantine and notification has been made to the public health department for pathological examination and confirmation of diagnosis.
b. Exception: The only exception to this shall be if the animal in question is so vicious or wild that it cannot be restrained and the police officer or animal control officer feels that further pursuit would result in losing the animal; then the animal can be killed with gunshot not aimed at the head of the animal. After the animal is dead, the head is to be severed from the body and sent to the public health department for examination and diagnosis.
7. Contagious Or Infectious Disease: It is unlawful for any person to permit or allow any animal with a contagious or infectious disease to run at large upon the public streets, roads and ways of this city; or to be within and upon any public transportation facility or any other public building or place, or to expose such animal in any public building or place, whereby the health, safety, and well being of the public, or any member thereof, may be affected. (Ord. 1993-7, 12-9-1993)